ISLAMABAD- A delegation of Justice Project Pakistan (JPP), led by Barrister Sarah Belal, met the Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior, Senator Rehman Malik, and discussed matters related to the Pakistani prisoners imprisoned in Iran, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and other countries.
The meeting took place in his office on Thursday and was also attended by Malaika Raza of Pakistan People Party (PPP). The JPP delegation, on behalf of the family members of overseas prisoners, appealed to Malik to raise the issue of Pakistani nationals imprisoned in different countries before the government of Pakistan as they were passing through the most vulnerable situation, facing harsh punishments and lacking legal assistance. Executive Director JPP, Sarah Belal, briefed Malik that there were currently 189 Pakistani nationals in Iranian Jails – many of them sentenced for drug offences. She added that on October 25, 2017, the Guardian Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran approved a bill easing the death penalty in certain cases. As a result of this amendment, Pakistani citizens, imprisoned in Iran, were entitled to get commutation.
Senator Malik commended the Iranian government’s efforts for easing their drug laws and providing relief to those who were sentenced under previous standards. He vowed to take up the issue of the Pakistani missions who were not providing legal aid to overseas Pakistani prisoners according to the international standards and the laws of the host countries with the government.
Criticizing the previous and the incumbent governments for their lack of support for Pakistanis abroad, the Senator said, “Our government initiated a prisoner transfer agreement with Iran but the subsequent governments failed to build upon it.”
He added, “Pakistani embassies and missions must abide by their primary responsibility to provide consular services to all those who have been imprisoned and detained in foreign jails.”
Malik asked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to instruct all Pakistani embassies to provide complete category-wise data of Pakistani prisoners abroad, including the nature of their offences and their sentences. He also appreciated Barrister Belal for her role in bringing back 40 Pakistani nationals back to the country from Bagram by providing them with the necessary legal assistance. He also directed the Ministry of Interior to submit a comprehensive report to the standing committee about all the Pakistani nationals imprisoned in different countries particularly in Iran, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
Later, while speaking on the floor of the Senate, Malik asked the government of Pakistan to take up the matter of Pakistani prisoners with Iranian Foreign Minister during his visit to Pakistan. He also appealed the Government of Iran to extend legal assistance to Pakistani prisoners as courtesy and on humanitarian basis. There are currently 9360 Pakistanis imprisoned in other countries. Without access to lawyers, counsellor assistance and impartial translators, the fates of these Pakistanis are at the mercy of local courts. These destitute Pakistanis have also been failed by the Pakistani missions abroad.
Published in Daily Times, August 31st 2018.
